Nowitzki reached the milestone with a 14-foot fadeaway jumper from the left baseline with 10:57 left in the fourth quarter against the Los Angeles Lakers. It actually gave him 20,001 points, and it pulled the Mavericks to 78-75.
The 31-year-old Nowitzki is in his 12th season from Germany. This was the 876th game of his career.
Drafted for his potential as a 7-footer who could make 3-pointers, he's blossomed into the franchise's greatest player, having won a league MVP award and leading the club to the NBA finals for the first time.